While Africa has enjoyed increasing stability and rising economic growth, this has also facilitated cross-border criminal activity across the continent. The past decade has seen dramatic shifts in the conversation around transnational organised crime (TOC) in Africa.
Transnational organised crime affects every section of society, from state actors to local communities. It fuels corruption and conflict, infiltrates business and politics, and triggers violence often directed at society’s most vulnerable, while at the same time diverting resources that could be dedicated to development, reducing poverty or improving basic services.
Criminal organisations use legitimate state structures to sustain the circulation and sale of illicit goods, facilitate money laundering and minimise the risk of prosecution. In addition, more and more organised crime activities are linked with conflict and violent extremism in Africa.
In order to combat organised crime on the continent, the Enhancing Africa’s response to transnational organised crime (ENACT) project aims to reduce the impact of transnational organised crime on development, governance, security and the rule of law in Africa.
The project is intended to build comprehensive knowledge base on the role of organised crime in Africa using evidence-based research and factual analysis to inform policy decisions, and to strengthen the technical skills and capacities of key African stakeholders to enhance their effectiveness in responding to transnational criminal threats.
